4:08 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[November, 
the eastern portion of the country is concerned. Prof. 
G. E. Morrow, of the Iowa Agricultural College, Secretary 
of the Association, explained the objects of the Congress, 
which is the collection and distribution of information 
relating to agriculture throughout tlie United States, in 
any manner that may contribute to its prosperity. A 
paper written by Joseph Harris, of Rochester, N. A., oil 
the « Outlook of American Agriculture,” and another on 
Agricultural Literature, by Ur. E. L. Sturtevant, of Massa¬ 
chusetts, were read by the Secretary. Mr. Harris, in his 
paper, advocated intelligent and industrious farming 
rather than legislative help as the needed element for 
success in our agriculture. J. R. Uodge, of the Agricul¬ 
tural Department at Washington, read a paper on Agri¬ 
cultural Statistics, illustrating the practical value to 
farmers of a complete, accurate, and especially a prompt 
statement of production, consumption, price, sale, and 
shipment of agricultural commodities. Dr. Janes, Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture of Georgia, gave an address 
upon Agricultural Reform. In tiie speaker’s own locality 
“misdirected individual enterprise, speculative farming, 
a ruinous credit system, and ignorant or injudicious pur¬ 
chase and use of valueless artificial fertilizers,” were 
considered as calling for reform. Lewis F. Allen, of N. 
Y., addressed the meeting upon the subject of Live Stock 
Interests, and Col. T. Claiborne, in a speech on Southern 
Agriculture, enlarged upon the vast scope for immigra¬ 
tion in the Southern States and the urgent need for it. 
X. A. Willard treated of American Dairying; the subject 
of Agricultural Education was discussed by President 
Welsh, of tiie Iowa Agricultural College, and Dr. Town¬ 
send, of the Ohio College. A series of resolutions were 
introduced by Charles E. Riley, of Missouri, calling the 
attention of the Congress to the devastation caused by 
locusts in the West, and urging some measures for the 
remedy or palliation of the scourge. Previous to the 
close of the meeting, it was decided to hold the next ses¬ 
sion at Chicago in 1S77. President Flagg was re-elected, 
and Horace Smith, of Philadelphia, was made Secretary. 
Bee Notes for November. 
BY L. C. BOOT, MOHAWK, N. Y. 
In most sections, bees should be placed in winter quar¬ 
ters during the present month, the precise date depend¬ 
ing on the severity of the weather. Most of the earlier 
writers have advised that the hives be left on their sum¬ 
mer stands until quite late in the season, in order to give 
the bees the very last opportunity to fly. Later experi¬ 
ence proves this to bo less essential. We have proof of 
the need of keeping bees housed during the early spring 
months, and I believe the necessity of avoiding a similar 
loss during tiie later fall months to be equally obvious. 
I think that there is more danger of bees being housed 
too late than too early. In making benches on which to 
place bees in winter quarters, I would make them in sec¬ 
tions, so that, a less number of hives shall be placed upon 
each one. In this way a less number will be disturbed 
in putting them in place in the fall, and in removing 
them in tiie spring. At the latter time it will be found 
to be of especial advantage. Details of my mode of in¬ 
door wintering were given in November, 1875. 
Tiie Season of 1876. 
Although the past season has not been one of the 
best for honey in most localities, some have gained what 
might be called a good yield. Some parties in Western 
N. Y. report an average of 100 lbs. surplus from a swarm. 
My own yield was much better than last year, yet not as 
good as the year before. I commenced the season with 
130 swarms, which were increased to 188, and secured 
between nine and ten thousand lbs. of surplus honey. 
Replies to Questions. 
“ After-swarming, it is said, may be prevented by cut¬ 
ting out all queen cells but one ; why leave that one ?.... 
If I destroy all the queen cells and at the same time 
double the hive, can I, with certainty, prevent swarming, 
or will a second examination be necessary, and if so, 
liow s@on after the first?”-By “after-swarms” we 
mean all swarms that issue after the first one. After the 
old queen leads off the first swarm, if the hive from 
which the swarm issues is examined, several queen cells 
will be found. The swarm being without a queen, it is, 
of course, desirable to furnish one in the shortest pos¬ 
sible time. If all the cells could be removed and a lay¬ 
ing queen introduced, it would be preferable, but if you 
do not have a queen, remove all but one of the largest 
and most mature cells, which will soon hatch. Either 
method will usually prevent after-swarms. Preventing 
after-swarms, and preventing first swarms from issuing, 
require altogether different systems of management. If 
tiie best results are to be reached, it is not enough to 
prevent swarming, but the desire to swarm must be con¬ 
trolled. If all cells are clipped off, and the honey is ex¬ 
tracted from the combs, the desire to swarm will usually 
cease. Or, if one or more frames be taken from the 
center of the hive and empty ones substituted, the 
swarming fever will usually subside, but if the queen 
cells be simply clipped off and the hive doubled, or boxes 
added, it is not at all sure that swarming will be prevent¬ 
ed. During two different seasons we managed several 
apiaries by visiting them once each week, and clipping 
off' all queen cells, but it did not prove at all satisfactory. 
I propose to write further upon this subject before the 
time for next season’s operations. 
“ How shall I prepare sugar syrup for feeding bees ? ” 
-Add 4 pounds of “A” sugar to 1 quart of water, 
bring to a boil, and skim. In selecting sugar, avoid that 
having a bluish tint, as we have proof that it contains 
poison that will injure the bees. The same advice might 
be offered in regard to buying for family use. 
“ How do you use the feeder you describe in connection 
with the Quin by hive ? ”-Several have seemed to mis¬ 
understand the manner of using this feeder. It is simply 
a tin box 4x4x2 inches. Midway, on one side near the 
top, a % In. hole is cut, through which the bees enter. 
On each side of this, nearer the top, are two smaller 
holes for nails to hold it in position. To use it, bore a 
% in. hole, in one of the panels at the side of the combs, 
to correspond with the hole in tiie feeder, drive two small 
nails to match the smaller holes, and hang the feeder in 
position, as in the engraving. Fill it with the syrup, and 
place a thin float of wood in it, to keep the bees from 
drowning. As the feed is taken up by the bees, the float 
will settle ; when near the bottom, the bees will find it 
difficult to ascend the side of the feeder, but by waxing 
tiie inside just below the hole, they can cling to it more 
readily. Keep the feeder covered with a piece of glass, 
through which the supply of food may be inspected. 
This feeding is of course done before the hive is pre¬ 
pared for winter. 
“How shall I prepare bees for out-door wintering in 
the Quinby nive ? ”-Place the panels at the sides of 
the combs, and a piece of coarse sacking over the top. 
Pack cut-straw or chaff snugly at the sides and top. 
- - - n Q i -• 
British Reports of the Exhibition, 
We have often marveled at the inability of the 
average Englishman to see anything good in this 
country', and to report accurately that which he 
sees. Next to reporting a thing untruthfully, the 
most mischievous accounts are those which ignore 
important things, and dwell upon those of less con¬ 
sequence. The Gardeners’ Magazine (London), 
shows much liberality in presenting large, if not 
very accurate, engravings,of portions of the Centen¬ 
nial Exhibition, but the text accompanying them, 
proposing to give an account of the Horticultural 
part of the Exhibition, is more remarkable for 
what it omits than for what it says, and gives a 
moot meagre idea of the affair. The collection of 
Mr. George Such, beyond all comparison the finest 
lot of plants exhibited, is thus referred to, 
“Amongst the Palms, mention must be made of a 
collection which has been sent from New Jersey, 
and is of the estimated value of $10,000. But the 
plants comprising the collection, [we should sup¬ 
pose that the collection “ comprised ” the plants. 
Ed.], are placed in one of the smaller structures at 
the side.”—Now here is a collection which this 
correspondent admits is of great value, but it is not 
thought worth while to say who owns it, or what 
part of New Jersey it comes from. This meagre 
notice would imply that it was all or chiefly Palms, 
and it does contain some very fine ones, but it also 
contains wonderfully fine specimens of the leading 
and rare kinds of other plants. Mr. Such being I 
disposed of in this summary manner, the corre- | 
spondent devotes three times the space to the col¬ 
lection of Mr. B. S. Williams (London), being 
careful to give the address in full, and abundant 
praise. We ourselves gave Mr. Williams much 
credit last mouth, and he richly deserves it, and 
we should not object had this writer given much 
more; what we do object to is the very unfair 
treatment of Mr. Such. This writer says: “ The 
new Maiden-hair fern, Adiantum gracillimum, ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. Williams, has excited considerable 
interest amongst the growers of flowers and 
plants,” etc. All very true, but the collection of 
Mr. Such contained a specimen of this very same 
fern, which was (to speak from recollection) twice 
or three times as large as that of Mr. Williams, 
and as it had not been subjected to a sea voyage, 
was in vastly better health and condition. The 
inability to see anything. American, afflicts this 
writer when he notices the plants in the grounds 
belonging to Horticultural Hall. The displays of 
Rhododendrons by Mr. Waterer, have a special no¬ 
tice, and the out-door collections are disposed of 
thus: “The grounds which surround the building 
are laid out in the formal stj'le, which is the most 
popular here at present, and in addition to the 
Rhododendrons already alluded to, it contains a 
most valuable collection of hollies, from the nur¬ 
series of Messrs. J. Veitoh & Sons, of Chelsea.” 
(We quote verbatim, the English is not ours.) This 
writer had only eyes for the plants exhibited by 
these two English establishments, and one would 
infer from his account that, as the hollies were “ in 
addition ” to the Rhododendrons, these two were 
the only plants in the grounds. Messrs. Yeitch 
deserve all credit for sending their hollies, and 
their collection is of much interest, as showing 
what beautiful things may be grown in England, 
but which are impossible with us,‘unless housed in 
winter. This writer could not see the fine collec¬ 
tions of evergreens of Hoopes Bro. & Thomas, the 
exceedingly rare plants exhibited by S. B. Parsons 
& Sons, and Robt. Parsons & Co , the very full 
collection of hardy plants of Thomas Meehan, the 
getting together of which involved immense labor, 
or the many other fine collections, which we shall 
notice another time, all of which are conspicious in 
the grounds which this writer would have his Eng¬ 
lish readers believe contained only the plants of 
two English nursery firms. This style of reporting 
the Exhibition is unfair to those who read it, as by 
ignoring important features, it gives them an in¬ 
correct impression, and it is eminently unfair to 
those exhibitors, whose misfortune of being Ameri¬ 
cans prevents any knowledge of their work from 
reaching their brother horticulturists abroad. The 
horticultural portion of the Exhibition is not what 
it should have been, but there is much there 
that can not fail to interest any true horticulturist, 
of whatever country, and to ignore what has been 
done, in the manner of this correspondent, can not 
be regarded as an illustration of the much talked 
of English love of “fair play.” 
Forest Tree Seeds. 
The numerous inquiries as to the treatment of 
seeds show that much interest is felt in the raising 
of forest trees. We repeat the suggestions made 
once before, that unless one is intending to plant 
largely, or has abundant time to devote to his seed 
beds, it will generally be cheaper to purchase seed¬ 
ling trees than to raise them. There are several 
nurseries which, it will be seen from our advertis¬ 
ing columns, make a specialty of seedlings of forest 
trees, and offer them at exceedingly low prices. 
We here condense a few points for those who wish 
to grow trees from the seed. Of the trees general¬ 
ly planted a few ripen their seed in late spring or 
early summer, the seed, if kept until the following 
spring, will be worthless, hence it must be sown, 
immediately after it is gathered. The Red Maple, 
{Acer rubrum), the Silver or White Maple {A. dasy- 
carpum) and the Elm (Ulmus Americana ) have this 
peculiarity, and whoever would raise these must 
make arrangements to proem-e the seeds as soon as 
ripe, and sow them as soon as received. If the 
